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Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance
Winter, 1890.
A deep freeze has fallen upon London, and its citizens remain huddled indoors.
But the cogs of the criminal underworld never stop turning, and Holmes and Watson find themselves embroiled in a crime that rocks the centre of the art world.
Sir Wellington is disturbed in the middle of the night, apprehending a thief attempting to steal his rare and valuable 14th portrait of King Edward III.
In the kerfuffle that follows, the painting is set ablaze and the thief escapes.
When the police track down the criminal to take him to the station, he is fatally shot by an unknown assailant.
But the labyrinth of deceit grows even more impenetrable, as the painting’s provenance is called into question and Holmes and Watson find themselves in the midst of a vast conspiracy.
It seems that this incident is just one of many at the hands of a powerful crime syndicate, duping the London’s wealthy into buying imitation artwork – with the renowned National Portrait Gallery supposedly at the centre...
With usurped identities, shootings, chases and conspiracies, Holmes and Watson find themselves enmeshed in a tangled web of theft, forgery and murder.
Can the famous duo untangle the mystery and expose the criminal network before it is too late? Or will this case prove too complex for even their brilliant minds?
Praise for The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance:
“… Derrick Belanger has once again created his own unique doorway into the world of Holmes and Watson. He makes you feel as if you’re in Victorian London, and the story’s twists are both surprising and satisfying.”
- David Marcum, author of The Papers of Sherlock Holmes
"... well-paced, with just enough action to balance the domesticity and deduction, and the plot is cleverly executed."
- ihearofsherlock.com blog
“This author truly captures the storytelling virtues with which Doyle imbued Dr. Watson. Belanger’s tale pulls you in from the first paragraph, and keeps you at Holmes’s side as this marvelous new tale unfolds step-by-step. If you love Holmes, you’ll love The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance.”
- Kim Krisco, author of Sherlock Holmes: The Golden Years
Derrick Belanger is an author and educator most noted for his books and lectures on Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Both volumes of his two volume anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural were #1 best sellers on the Amazon Sherlock Holmes book list, and his MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes chapter book, Attack of the Violet Vampire! was also a #1 bestselling new release in the UK. Mr. Belanger’s academic work has been published in The Colorado Reading Journal and Gifted Child Today. Mr. Belanger is also a teacher at Century Middle School in the Adams 12 Five Star School District, and he resides in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife, Abigail Gosselin, and their daughters, Rhea and Phoebe.
A deep freeze has fallen upon London, and its citizens remain huddled indoors.
But the cogs of the criminal underworld never stop turning, and Holmes and Watson find themselves embroiled in a crime that rocks the centre of the art world.
Sir Wellington is disturbed in the middle of the night, apprehending a thief attempting to steal his rare and valuable 14th portrait of King Edward III.
In the kerfuffle that follows, the painting is set ablaze and the thief escapes.
When the police track down the criminal to take him to the station, he is fatally shot by an unknown assailant.
But the labyrinth of deceit grows even more impenetrable, as the painting’s provenance is called into question and Holmes and Watson find themselves in the midst of a vast conspiracy.
It seems that this incident is just one of many at the hands of a powerful crime syndicate, duping the London’s wealthy into buying imitation artwork – with the renowned National Portrait Gallery supposedly at the centre...
With usurped identities, shootings, chases and conspiracies, Holmes and Watson find themselves enmeshed in a tangled web of theft, forgery and murder.
Can the famous duo untangle the mystery and expose the criminal network before it is too late? Or will this case prove too complex for even their brilliant minds?
Praise for The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance:
“… Derrick Belanger has once again created his own unique doorway into the world of Holmes and Watson. He makes you feel as if you’re in Victorian London, and the story’s twists are both surprising and satisfying.”
- David Marcum, author of The Papers of Sherlock Holmes
"... well-paced, with just enough action to balance the domesticity and deduction, and the plot is cleverly executed."
- ihearofsherlock.com blog
“This author truly captures the storytelling virtues with which Doyle imbued Dr. Watson. Belanger’s tale pulls you in from the first paragraph, and keeps you at Holmes’s side as this marvelous new tale unfolds step-by-step. If you love Holmes, you’ll love The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance.”
- Kim Krisco, author of Sherlock Holmes: The Golden Years
Derrick Belanger is an author and educator most noted for his books and lectures on Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Both volumes of his two volume anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural were #1 best sellers on the Amazon Sherlock Holmes book list, and his MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes chapter book, Attack of the Violet Vampire! was also a #1 bestselling new release in the UK. Mr. Belanger’s academic work has been published in The Colorado Reading Journal and Gifted Child Today. Mr. Belanger is also a teacher at Century Middle School in the Adams 12 Five Star School District, and he resides in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife, Abigail Gosselin, and their daughters, Rhea and Phoebe.
82 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2015
About the author
Derrick Belanger
126 books50 followersAuthor Derrick Belanger's publications include an eclectic mix: book reviews, articles for education journals, short stories, poems, comic books, and the graphic novel, Twenty-Three Skidoo! A former instructor at Washington State University, and a current middle school Language Arts teacher, Derrick lives in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife Abigail Gosselin and their two daughters, Rhea and Phoebe. Currently, Derrick is working on several Sherlockian projects: the Young Adult novel Sherlock Holmes and the Transformers of Time, the teaching guide Sherlock Holmes for Teachers, the pastiche novel The Funeral of Sherlock Holmes, and the film studies book The Hound of the Baskervilles: From Page to Screen. He also co-authors the web site Mystery Aircraft.com with author Chuck Davis.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 2, 2017
This book turns out to be a “two-fer” – The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance, a compelling novella, and “The Case of the Vanished Killer,” a short story. I enjoyed them both, but I’ll focus on the novella, which I found a layered and compelling read.
A young constable named Bellows fetches Holmes and Watson at the request of Chief Inspector Rousseau in Scotland Yard. Earlier, Bellows and Rousseau had answered a report of a break-in at the home of Sir Hardwick Wellington: An artist named Liddle, caught by Wellington in the act of stealing a prized drawing, threw it in the fire and escaped. At Liddle’s home, the artist admitted the theft and showed a mysterious letter to the Inspector, but then was fatally shot by an unknown assailant on the way to the carriage that would take him to the Yard.
The mysterious paper the Inspector now gives to Holmes is none other than a letter from Mycroft Holmes stating that Liddle was on a secret assignment for the government. Several enjoyable plot twists follow: Bellows is disguised as a still-living Liddle in jail in order to be a decoy for . . . ? (Not telling.) And Wellington, an art dealer, who originally bought the burned sketch in order to help a curator raise funds for the National Portrait Gallery, hires Holmes to investigate the theft.
Further revelations keep this story a page-turner all the way to its satisfying conclusion. The author’s writing captures Doyle’s “voice,” and carefully chosen details immerse a reader in the atmospheric world of Victorian London. The short story that follows is an added bonus.
A young constable named Bellows fetches Holmes and Watson at the request of Chief Inspector Rousseau in Scotland Yard. Earlier, Bellows and Rousseau had answered a report of a break-in at the home of Sir Hardwick Wellington: An artist named Liddle, caught by Wellington in the act of stealing a prized drawing, threw it in the fire and escaped. At Liddle’s home, the artist admitted the theft and showed a mysterious letter to the Inspector, but then was fatally shot by an unknown assailant on the way to the carriage that would take him to the Yard.
The mysterious paper the Inspector now gives to Holmes is none other than a letter from Mycroft Holmes stating that Liddle was on a secret assignment for the government. Several enjoyable plot twists follow: Bellows is disguised as a still-living Liddle in jail in order to be a decoy for . . . ? (Not telling.) And Wellington, an art dealer, who originally bought the burned sketch in order to help a curator raise funds for the National Portrait Gallery, hires Holmes to investigate the theft.
Further revelations keep this story a page-turner all the way to its satisfying conclusion. The author’s writing captures Doyle’s “voice,” and carefully chosen details immerse a reader in the atmospheric world of Victorian London. The short story that follows is an added bonus.
January 18, 2016
A nice relatively short story that is a good fit into the Holmes pastiche genre well....
November 27, 2015
Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance by Derrick Belanger
***Any spoilers are by chance only. I strive to review the book, not give away everything.***
A man is arrested for a petty crime and produces a letter that gives him the right to do so; signed by Mycroft Holmes, himself!
Disgraced Peer Sir Hardwick Wellington has purchased a rare piece of art. He is then attacked in his own study by a man who drops the rare sketch into the fire destroying it. When that man, Sheldon Liddle, is accosted by Scotland Yard, he produces the aforementioned letter. Then he is shot by someone who is an obvious expert marksman.
As far as the story goes, it is pretty good. The mystery of what anyone could hope to gain by such means is well thought out, and the writing is fairly tight. The pace of the story is such that it keeps the reader interested, always wondering what is happening in the next line, the next paragraph, or the next chapter. The story I recommend.
That was the good news. Now, I am afraid I must bear sad tidings.
If this story was written with characters original to the writer, it would profit by it. Writing it with established characters like Doctor Watson and Sherlock Holmes I feel was a mistake. For me, and this is only my opinion, there was something that didn’t ring true to the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
After several e-mails with Derrick Belanger, I have come to understand better his views on Sherlock Holmes. As most of the things I originally marked as at fault with the Homes Canon can be, and have been, argued by more knowledgeable men than myself, it only comes down to a matter of taste. There Mr. Belanger and myself agree to disagree!
I want to point out one thing I look at carefully in pastiches. The person narrating the story is a key point. If the author has a different person than Watson doing the writing, I allow more leeway on canonical accuracy. After all we do not expect another person to write in the same manner, with the same knowledge as Holmes’ friend and companion.
When the author chooses to use Watson as narrator, I expect a lot. This is supposed to be the same writer of the Canon, after all. Why would he suddenly break all of his long habits? When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Adventure of the Lion’s Mane and The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone, neither of which are narrated by Watson, the writing was different. So it’s a small matter of opinion.
This is an excellent story. But to me it doesn’t really have the ring of Sherlock Holmes story.
I will say I seldom read a story that flowed as well as this one did. Given the obvious quality of the mystery, however; my own objections should not be a major blow to the author. Therefore I now give the story four and a half out of five stars.
Quoth the Raven…
***Any spoilers are by chance only. I strive to review the book, not give away everything.***
A man is arrested for a petty crime and produces a letter that gives him the right to do so; signed by Mycroft Holmes, himself!
Disgraced Peer Sir Hardwick Wellington has purchased a rare piece of art. He is then attacked in his own study by a man who drops the rare sketch into the fire destroying it. When that man, Sheldon Liddle, is accosted by Scotland Yard, he produces the aforementioned letter. Then he is shot by someone who is an obvious expert marksman.
As far as the story goes, it is pretty good. The mystery of what anyone could hope to gain by such means is well thought out, and the writing is fairly tight. The pace of the story is such that it keeps the reader interested, always wondering what is happening in the next line, the next paragraph, or the next chapter. The story I recommend.
That was the good news. Now, I am afraid I must bear sad tidings.
If this story was written with characters original to the writer, it would profit by it. Writing it with established characters like Doctor Watson and Sherlock Holmes I feel was a mistake. For me, and this is only my opinion, there was something that didn’t ring true to the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
After several e-mails with Derrick Belanger, I have come to understand better his views on Sherlock Holmes. As most of the things I originally marked as at fault with the Homes Canon can be, and have been, argued by more knowledgeable men than myself, it only comes down to a matter of taste. There Mr. Belanger and myself agree to disagree!
I want to point out one thing I look at carefully in pastiches. The person narrating the story is a key point. If the author has a different person than Watson doing the writing, I allow more leeway on canonical accuracy. After all we do not expect another person to write in the same manner, with the same knowledge as Holmes’ friend and companion.
When the author chooses to use Watson as narrator, I expect a lot. This is supposed to be the same writer of the Canon, after all. Why would he suddenly break all of his long habits? When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Adventure of the Lion’s Mane and The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone, neither of which are narrated by Watson, the writing was different. So it’s a small matter of opinion.
This is an excellent story. But to me it doesn’t really have the ring of Sherlock Holmes story.
I will say I seldom read a story that flowed as well as this one did. Given the obvious quality of the mystery, however; my own objections should not be a major blow to the author. Therefore I now give the story four and a half out of five stars.
Quoth the Raven…
May 29, 2016
I have always been a fan of detective stories and Sherlock Holmes has always been one of my favorites. The problem is that once you have read all of the works written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, you have to start looking else where for more stories about “The First Consulting Detective”. And Derrick Belanger has given me another source for great Sherlock Stories.
Derrick does an excellent job staying true to Dr John Watson's original stories while bringing a new adventure to life. His descriptive writing really does make you feel like you are in Victorian England.
And the story “The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance” Delivers on all the points I love about a Sherlock Holmes story. It starts with a very interesting case of stolen art and murder. But quickly you find yourself following Holmes and Watson deeper and deeper into a well-crafted conspiracy. Plus not everyone is what he or she seems, as each character has his or her own plans in the background.
But in the end Holmes ferrets them all out.
I would say more but I don’t want to give anything about the story away. Enjoy this story.
Derrick does an excellent job staying true to Dr John Watson's original stories while bringing a new adventure to life. His descriptive writing really does make you feel like you are in Victorian England.
And the story “The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance” Delivers on all the points I love about a Sherlock Holmes story. It starts with a very interesting case of stolen art and murder. But quickly you find yourself following Holmes and Watson deeper and deeper into a well-crafted conspiracy. Plus not everyone is what he or she seems, as each character has his or her own plans in the background.
But in the end Holmes ferrets them all out.
I would say more but I don’t want to give anything about the story away. Enjoy this story.
May 10, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyable
Belanger has done a great job in recreating the Holmes characters. The story line was just as complex as Doyle's and even the dialogue brought the great detective to life.
Belanger has done a great job in recreating the Holmes characters. The story line was just as complex as Doyle's and even the dialogue brought the great detective to life.
June 7, 2017
Not bad.
Unfortunately the author betrays his American roots by not knowing the correct way to address a peer. A knight is addressed as Sir ( Christian name). A lord is addressed as Lord (surname). So Ben Kingsley is addressed as Sir Ben, not Sir Kingsley. Pretty basic research for someone attempting to write of the period: sloppy.
Unfortunately the author betrays his American roots by not knowing the correct way to address a peer. A knight is addressed as Sir ( Christian name). A lord is addressed as Lord (surname). So Ben Kingsley is addressed as Sir Ben, not Sir Kingsley. Pretty basic research for someone attempting to write of the period: sloppy.
September 3, 2020
I thought this was rather bad.
The writing style was ponderous and there were so many errors of fact, usage and syntax that I was reduced to hoots of laughter and groans of horror. The plot is negligible and the solution risible.
It is also more about Dr. Watson than Sherlock.
Thank you to the publishers for a free copy.
The writing style was ponderous and there were so many errors of fact, usage and syntax that I was reduced to hoots of laughter and groans of horror. The plot is negligible and the solution risible.
It is also more about Dr. Watson than Sherlock.
Thank you to the publishers for a free copy.
September 12, 2020
1890 Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are sent for by Scotland Yard, as Sir Hardwick Wellington has been accosted in his home, with an attempt to steal a painting. They follow the clues to a conspiracy.
Unfortunately a few Americanisms crept in, and an incorrect usage of titles
But still an enjoyable story
Unfortunately a few Americanisms crept in, and an incorrect usage of titles
But still an enjoyable story
August 27, 2021
Pretty good
This story is pretty good. Gave an easy read. I liked seeing a little more of Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Hudson, though the author keeps calling her Martha. I highly doubt Holmes and Watson ever did that.
Other than that, the story is nicely written and a good read for a rainy day. My favorite part was the little extra action with Watson.
Christa
This story is pretty good. Gave an easy read. I liked seeing a little more of Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Hudson, though the author keeps calling her Martha. I highly doubt Holmes and Watson ever did that.
Other than that, the story is nicely written and a good read for a rainy day. My favorite part was the little extra action with Watson.
Christa
May 19, 2017
SH and Watson are called in by Sir Wellington when someone tries to steal a valuable drawing then burns it. They follow the clues to the end.
Fairly good and true to original SH writing.
Fairly good and true to original SH writing.
March 30, 2019
Very good
This was a very good story that was extremely well written and enjoyable! Great for fans of Sherlock Holmes! Recommend!
This was a very good story that was extremely well written and enjoyable! Great for fans of Sherlock Holmes! Recommend!
July 15, 2019
Excellent Sherlockian fiction, true to the Dr. Watson genre. And by a fellow Coloradoan. well written. great story. Glad to have found a new Dr. Watson."
April 11, 2016
As someone who has read a wide variety of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and seen many of the movies and television productions, I enjoyed these two stories immensely and was completely absorbed all the way through. All the ingredients are there: Holmes's uncanny observational abilities, his keeping his cards close to the chest, and his use of alternate identities, as well as plot twists and Victorian atmosphere.
Yes, Mr. Belanger's interpretation of the characters differs somewhat from the original, but that's what pastiche is supposed to be. That's what happens in every new Holmes production, every Shakespeare production, even extensions of classic franchises such as "Star Trek" and "Dr. Who." That's what makes art, and I think it's wonderful.
So thank you, Mr. Belanger, for a compelling and engaging riff. I look forward to your next volume with great anticipation.
Yes, Mr. Belanger's interpretation of the characters differs somewhat from the original, but that's what pastiche is supposed to be. That's what happens in every new Holmes production, every Shakespeare production, even extensions of classic franchises such as "Star Trek" and "Dr. Who." That's what makes art, and I think it's wonderful.
So thank you, Mr. Belanger, for a compelling and engaging riff. I look forward to your next volume with great anticipation.
December 9, 2015
Good but not Doyle.
The author has crafted an intriguing tale that easily holds the reader's attention, but. . . . Unfortunately he misses the mark of recreating the atmosphere and tone of Doyle's creations. Mr. Holmes is not sufficiently intense, and the finale leaves one feeling as though there is a chapter missing. All in all, the book seems more like a draft than a complete and polished work.
The author has crafted an intriguing tale that easily holds the reader's attention, but. . . . Unfortunately he misses the mark of recreating the atmosphere and tone of Doyle's creations. Mr. Holmes is not sufficiently intense, and the finale leaves one feeling as though there is a chapter missing. All in all, the book seems more like a draft than a complete and polished work.
May 13, 2016
Come, Watson, the game's afoot
I enjoyed reading this Sherlockian adventure as it would have been related to us by Dr Watson. It's a devious tale of murder, conspiracy, betrayal, deceit, and forged artwork.
There are more than a dozen typos, and King Edward III is once referred to as George.
I enjoyed reading this Sherlockian adventure as it would have been related to us by Dr Watson. It's a devious tale of murder, conspiracy, betrayal, deceit, and forged artwork.
There are more than a dozen typos, and King Edward III is once referred to as George.
January 5, 2016
Fun read. Not close to the master but still enjoyable!!
January 10, 2016
An okay read, but I don't understand why Sir Hardwick Wellington was referred to as Sir Wellington. Surely, it should have been Sir Hardwick?
April 1, 2016
Interesting story
The distraction from the error of using "Sir Wellington' repeatedly instead of 'Sir Hardwick
', properly, reduced my enjoyment to a wimper.
The distraction from the error of using "Sir Wellington' repeatedly instead of 'Sir Hardwick
', properly, reduced my enjoyment to a wimper.
May 18, 2016
Sherlock
It is still within the guise of original novels. I found it to be entertaining at best. If an avid Holmes reader will asks be within the circle of topic
It is still within the guise of original novels. I found it to be entertaining at best. If an avid Holmes reader will asks be within the circle of topic
May 4, 2018
Just readable. Watson isn't up to carrying major portions of a pastiche.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews